Hey guys, I know this isn't necessarily an "edged tool" but it will be used to make them so I figure that counts, right?!?

Anyway, recently I purchased a GIB (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=720299), motor (http://www.waynecoeartistblacksmith.com/Motors___VFDs.html), wheels (http://www.usaknifemaker.com/grinders-sanders-all-kinds-no-weld-grinder-plans-parts-c-99_59.html), etc... and the last of the kit came in today! I spent a couple hours drilling, tapping, driving back and forth to the hardware store... Didn't get as far on it as I had hoped (broke 2 of my 1/4-20 taps dangit) and forgot stuff yet again on my last trip to the hardware store. Hopefully I'll get a minute to work on it tomorrow but the term is swiftly coming to an end so exams and national boards are taking the front seat in my life right now (well, the 2nd row seat anyway, wife and kids always ride in the front seat, everything else comes secondary to them).

Let me just say I have been very pleased with Jamie over at Polar Bear Forge (http://polarbearforge.com/grinder_kit.html) and the GIB; great kit, great design, great guy to deal with and great price.

Sorry for the cell-phone pics, I'll post some real glamour shots once she's finished and has her make-up on... By the way, if anybody is thinking about building a GIB and is wondering what hardware they will need I can post a list of what I've bought. It's a little different than most others because I'm going to be making knives and straight razors on this so I have 2", 3", 4", 6" and 8" wheels already, the 1/4", 1/2", 3/4", 1" and 1 1/2" wheels are on their way...

vermillion8604

02-22-2011, 02:37 AM

Nice.... what was the cost for the kit?

trentu

02-22-2011, 06:16 AM

Very, very nice. Can't wait to see how you use it.

LukeDeBee

02-22-2011, 07:24 AM

Thanks for the photos. It must be like getting a new can of tinker-toys for Christmas! Have fun and keep us posted,too.

LukeDeBee

pronghornrunner

02-22-2011, 11:47 AM

Nice.... what was the cost for the kit?
http://polarbearforge.com/grinder_kit.html - the link he provided has all the juicy details! :D

I am selling this grinder kit for $250 plus shipping ($10.50 in the US via USPS flat rate box.)

amcardon

02-22-2011, 12:18 PM

Yeah, I tried to include all the links necessary for anybody trying to get an idea of what a build would run... I went with a 1.5 hp single phase motor from wayne coe because I couldn't swing the additional cost of the vfd, which I'm already starting to regret, I should have saved up a little while longer and gone the vfd route...

I also went with both platen options on the GIB so that was an additional $20 and I'll be ordering a second rotating platen which will be another $30 (for my 4" & 6" wheels).

One of my "internal dialogues" while trying to determine which motor to go with was that maybe the lack of vfd will drive me crazy so badly that it will force me to save up and buy another motor with vfd and another grinder body. I'll already have all the tool arms that would work on either grinder so...

By the way, I'll try to remember to post the link later for the way I'm doing the small contact wheels. Beaumont makes a small wheel attachment that is awesome but the adapter is about $100 and then the wheels are like $45+ each after that... The route I'm going will hopefully be under $50 for all the small wheels I listed above :)

pronghornrunner

02-22-2011, 12:23 PM

I should have added to my first post that this makes me both:
A) Extremely jealous - but I still have a lot to learn before I commit to something like this

and

B) Excited to see how your build turns out (especially with some "made" items!)

Adventure Sworn

02-22-2011, 12:37 PM

1/2 inch thick parts, that's serious..

Geoffrey

02-22-2011, 12:42 PM

Oh man, this is an awesome thread! I have been wanting to build my own grinder, thanks for the post and the link.

Get us some fully assembled pics up... :)

amcardon

02-23-2011, 02:05 AM

Well, I had a minute to work on this tonight and here is where she stands so far:

Still need a spring, change out a couple bolts and align the puppy and she'll be ready to rock! Oh, and I need to make my flat platen that will go between my 2" wheels on the other platen assembly... I have been lusting after a 2x72 for so long, I am so stinkin' excited I don't have to wait anymore! Oh, and no bagging on my messy garage, I just moved in... 7 months ago...

TwinBlade

02-23-2011, 02:18 AM

Pricing out what you have so far, you are in the $800 range...or there abouts. Is this a fair assessment? More? Less?

That's roughly where I'm at right now... I'm sure I'm in a little more than that and then add about $250 in belts on top. It's not a small amount, that's for sure...

Oh, and here's the link (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=767527) to the small wheel setup I'm putting together...

vermillion8604

02-23-2011, 02:39 AM

Nice :)

Crustysnow

02-23-2011, 06:48 PM

So, this is all new to me.....why a belt grinder vs. a bench grinder?

Aven

02-23-2011, 08:05 PM

You have a lot more choices when you use a belt sander then you do with a grinder. With a belt sander you can do various radius hollow grinds, flat or slightly convex. With different contact wheels you can get really tight radii for finger grips.

A bench grinder is just going to do a hollow grind.

Son of liberty

02-23-2011, 08:14 PM

Honestly the grinder in the box looks every bit as good as my KMG . I would prefer full tube to hold the tool head but I honestly cant say it would be any better. Nice setup and good job, looks like a winner for sure.

Congrats!

amcardon

02-23-2011, 11:05 PM

As mentioned, a bench grinder is really only good for hollow grinds due to the shape of the grinding wheel. This is still how they tune up straight razors at the few factories that still make them. However, for your typical bench grinder stone they will wear unevenly, give a very coarse and uneven scratch pattern, throw chips of hot steel and abrasive at you, grind VERY slowly and will bog down quickly... Ask me how I know ;)

I thought about using solid bar for the tool arms but the hollow was a third of the price with 3/16" walls and is rock solid. The grinder is already "forward" heavy so I didn't see the need for more weight. If there is too much vibration or I feel like more mass in the arms will benefit then I'll swap them out for solid bar arms.

Hoping that the additional rotating platen and small contact wheels will be here this week to finalize the grinder build! Gonna go hook up the wiring right now :)

amcardon

02-24-2011, 01:53 AM

Took her out for a test run and... Whoo! :D Really hoping tomorrow is a snow day so I can stay in and finish my flat platen and grind some steel!

That's roughly where I'm at right now... I'm sure I'm in a little more than that and then add about $250 in belts on top. It's not a small amount, that's for sure...

Oh, and here's the link (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=767527) to the small wheel setup I'm putting together...

so $1200+...as opposed to a Burr king at double that and you are at equal build quality IMO...probably better...

amcardon

02-27-2011, 03:30 AM

I had thought about going with a production model, leaning towards the kmg, which is an awesome machine, but when I started looking at the price involved for what I wanted the GIB just seemed like the obvious choice for me.

I've been practicing my hollow grinding in preparation for starting on some straight razors and this has just been a pleasure to work on. I was really scared of having horrible alignment problems or just that something would be wrong but it has been flawless since the first time I plugged her in. like I mentioned before, up to this point all I've had was a 1x42 delta that has served me well and really allowed me to know wether or not I would really enjoy knife making...